Metal casket



Ja'n. 7,1936. w. E. WALLACE El AL" 2,026,716

METAL CASKET Filed April 24, 1954 attorney,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE oAsKE'r EJWallace and David Bell, Wayne County, Ind; rant-alas Asia 24, 193 1; serial Nb. 722,141

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The particular objects of our inventiohresides inthe provision of certain newand useful improvements in the details of construction, as applied to the main or body portion of burial caskets, in order to simplify the process of man'- ufacture, toeliminate certain objectional features common to caskets of this general constructiomto improve the generaliappearan'ce of caskets of this class, the reduction of cost of manufacture thereof, and to preventfdisfigurement of the casket whichmight :be caused. by the weight of the upper portion of the casket orby the addition of a lid, or by other weight which might be added'thereto.

Other minor objects and advantages of our invention will be suggested in the drawing and in the general description herein set forth, and correlated in the appended claims.

The construction of our burial casket is fully shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the body of our casket. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same. Figure 4 is a vertical section of the same, as taken on an enlarged scale, and taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a detail view of one of the identical corner portions, as taken for instance on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a detail view, as taken on the line 66 of Figure 4, and Figure 7 isa detailview, similar to Figure 6, but on an enlarged scale, as taken, for instance, on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Similar indices designate like parts throughout the several views. 7

In order that the construction, the relation of the several parts to each other, and the advantages thereof, may be more fully understood and appreciated, we will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which we will set forth the same as fully and as clearly as we may. 7

Referring now to the drawing in detail, numerals l and 2 denote the vertical side members, and numerals 3 and 4 denote the end members of our casket, neither of which extend to the normal top or the bottom of the body of our casket.

Formed integral with and extending segmentally outwardly and upwardly from entirely around the upper terminals of the members I, 2, 3 and 4 are outwardly and upwardly curved bowed portion 5,- whose ends are mitered and secured together in any well known manner.

- members I, 2, 3 and 4.

fiangeport'ions 6, with which the casket'lid (not shown) may contact. Extending downwardly from the inner terminals of the" flanges 6, and at right-angles thereto, are the tongues 1, which are located in vertical alignment with 5 the respective end and side members I, 2, 3 and 4..

Similar to the above described members 5 and 6, but on a larger scale, and in reverselposition with relation thereto, are the lower-bowedportions 8, which are formedintegral with and ex- 7 tend segmentally outwardly and downwardly from-entirely around the lower terminals of the From the lower ter-' minals of said bowed portions 8 extend the flat horizontal flanges 9, which together with the bowed portions 8 form a pocket extending around the casket. Said flanges 9 merge into the upwardly protruding segmental bead H), which forms a downwardly directed channel II, which extends around the casket, and in alignment with the side and the end members thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. Extending laterally and inwardly from the inner terminals of the bead l0 are the flat and horizontal tongues l2, which are on a lower level than the flanges 9, and they provide the supports for the bottom of the casket.

Numeral [3 denotes the bottom plate of our casket, the same being of dimensions such that its edge portions rest flat on the tongues l2, to which it is pennanentlyattached, by soldering or otherwise.

Extending longitudinally from end-to-end throughout the center of the bottom I3, is the inverted V-shaped reinforcing ridge I4.

. Located in at least each corner of the casket there is provided a vertical right-angular supporting base I 5, which is formed of sheet metal, with the lower end portion turned inwardly forming the base portion l5 which fits on the angles formed by two adjoining ridges ID, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to which they are secured, as by soldering, and from where said braces extend directly upward, with both members thereof permanently secured in its respective'angle formed by the adjoining portions of a side and an end member of the casket, as indicated in Fig. 5.

In forming the ridge M, as the ends thereof do not merge into the beads Ill, an opening is formed at each end thereof, which openings are filled in and closed by solder It, as indicated in Fig. 6.

It is to be understood that where joints or over lapping occurs they are secured together by $01- dering, or otherwise, whereby when our construction is completed it forms a unitary structure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It is to be noticed that the members 9 are on a higher level than the members I2, whereby they will not contact with the supporting means for the casket, thereby protecting the bowed portion 8, and making it easy for ones hands to engage the casket when it is on a flat surface.

It is to be observed that each of the side member's, I and 2, and each of the end members 3 and 4, of our casket, provides an integral section of sheet metal, each including therewith a section of upper bowed portion 5, a member 6, a flange 1, a lower bowed portion 8, a member 9, a head 10, a channel H, and a tongue i2.

It is also to be observed that the braces [5 provide means for reinforcing the joints of the four corners with relation to each other, and further,

they strengthen the bowed portion 8 and prevent them from collapse or disfigurement by Weight applied to the upper portion of the casket.

Another important feature of our invention resides in the lower terminals [2, of the sides and ends of the casket being located inwardly from the channels H, whereby in lifting the casket, by grasping under the members 9 one. may engage his fingers in the channels it without encountering the edge of the member l2, which would be likely to damage ones fingers on the edges of the members I2, which we are aware has been done in other instances.

Having now fully shown and described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A sheet metal burial casket comprising joined side and end walls including longitudinal outwardly extending bowed portions along their edges terminating in inwardly directed flanges having longitudinally extending beads therein, 5 said flanges and bowed portions forming a pocket along said edges, a bottom plate associated with said flanges forming a base therewith and braces adjoining the juncture of said side and end walls extending upwardly along said walls bridging said 10 pocket in spaced relation to the outwardly extending bowed portion and resting upon said beads thereby providing for the reception directly by said flanges of load stresses upon said walls and preventing collapse of the walls forming said 15 pocket. 7

2. A' burial casket consisting of vertical sides and ends and outwardly and downwardly bowed portions formed integral therewith and terminating in inwardly directed horizontal flanges whose 20 inner edges terminate in a head, said bowed portions and flanges providing a pocket, a bottom plate located on a level lower than said flanges and with its edges merging with said bead, and braces adjoining and secured to the inner wall of 25 said sides and ends and with their lower ends secured to said beads thereby providing for receiving by said flanges of load stress upon the upper portion of the casket to prevent the collapse of the sides and ends of the casket and said bowed portions thereof.

WALTER E. WALLACE. DAVID BELL. 

